A Level Drama and Theatre Teacher Guide

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A LEVEL Teacher Guide DRAMA AND THEATRE

H459 For first teaching in 2016

The Visit – Friedrich Dürrenmatt Version 1

www.ocr.org.uk/drama A Level Drama and Theatre Teacher Guide

The Visit by Friedrick Dürrenmatt

The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt is set in the impoverished town of Guellen. (Guellen means liquid manure.)

Summary The opening scene is set on the town’s railway station as the occupants of the town are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Claire Zachanassion, a world famous millionairess. They bemoan their sad state of affairs as Guellen, once a well renowned place, is bankrupt and desperate. We learn that Claire Zachanassion actually grew up in Guellen and the Mayor says that Claire is now their only hope. Alfred III, a popular resident, was her childhood sweetheart and there is high expectation that Ill will get Claire to “cough up her millions.” Alfred Ill is expected to be the Mayor’s successor.

Claire makes a visually impressive entrance, accompanied by her entourage, including her seventh husband. She immediately makes a disparaging remark, calling Guellen a “wretched dump”. She proceeds to hand three thousand to the ticket inspector amidst murmuring approval from everyone. A seemingly embarrassed Ill presents himself to Claire, and they exchange pleasantries until Claire suddenly insults him saying, “You’ve grown fat. And grey. And drink-sodden.” She then reveals that she herself has an artificial leg and introduces Ill to her seventh husband. She proceeds to announce her desire to visit her old trysting haunts with Ill whilst her luggage and a coffin are unloaded from the train to be taken to the Golden Apostle Inn where she will reside during her stay.

The scene changes to the interior of the Golden Apostle, a threadbare and dusty environment. The Schoolmaster and the Mayor share their thoughts on Claire’s visit and the Schoolmaster expresses his horror at seeing Claire disembarking from the train, saying that she reminds him of an avenging Greek goddess. The policeman joins them and they drink a toast to Ill and the potential success of his mission.

The woodland scene in Konrad’s Village wood follows accusing them all of asking for more expensive tobacco with the scene being set by four citizens of Guellen and milk, demanding, “How are you going to pay?” representing the trees. Claire and Ill reminisce about the old days and their courting. It is revealed that she was Ill visits the Policeman and demands the arrest of seventeen and he was not quite twenty when he married Claire for incitement to murder. He tells Ill that that is Matilda Blumhard who owned the little general store, ridiculous and no one is pointing a gun at him. Ill sees whilst Claire ended up becoming a prostitute and was that the policeman is also wearing new yellow shoes. rescued by the wealthy Zachanassian. Towards the end of The policeman receives a phone call from Claire and it is this scene, Ill takes Claire’s hand, which is also artificial, as revealed that Claire’s black panther has escaped from the she says she is “unkillable”. Golden Apostle. He loads his gun.

Claire and Ill have returned to the Golden Apostle when Next, Ill visits the Mayor, who is smoking a new and there is a celebration on behalf of Claire’s return to her expensive brand of tobacco, with his new silk tie and new home town. Claire meets Ill’s wife Matilda, whilst the shoes. Ill demands protection and the Mayor tells him Doctor reveals his consternation as he says that Claire’s to go to the police. Ill then demands the arrest of Claire. jokes chill him “to the marrow”. Claire then states that The Mayor tells him that he did bribe two witnesses and she is getting a divorce and is going to marry a German cause Claire’s temporary ruin. He says Ill has no moral right film star, adding that she had always dreamt as a child of to demand the arrest of Claire and that he will now not getting married in Guellen Cathedral. After the Mayor’s be eligible to be the next Mayor. Ill tells him that he has grandiose speech to Claire, she announces that she is already been condemned to death. ready to give Guellen a million. Five hundred thousand Ill visits the Priest who tells him that he should be to the town and five hundred thousand to be shared troubled by his soul’s immortality. As the church bells amongst the families. However there is one condition. She begin to toll, the Priest suddenly flings himself onto Ill, states she is “buying herself justice”. The Mayor tells her begging him to flee Guellen. Meanwhile, Claire’s pet that is impossible. However, Claire’s Butler steps forward panther has been shot dead outside Ill’s shop. and reveals that he was formerly the Lord Chief Justice in Guellen and a long time ago he had a paternity claim Ill begins to make his way to the railway station with to arbitrate. Claire had brought the case against Ill who his suitcase. The citizens of Guellen approach him from denied he was the father of her love child and paid two all sides, saying they will gladly accompany him to the witnesses to deny the paternity. It transpires that these station. They express their friendship for him, telling him two witnesses are Koby and Loby, blind eunuchs, now that he has nothing to fear in Guellen. They crowd around part of Claire’s entourage, who chant together saying him and he asks them to let him pass. He fears that if he that Alfred Ill bribed them. Ill shouts out his outrage and gets onto the train someone will stop him. Ill falls to his Claire states her price. “A million for Guellen if someone knees and then collapses on the ground, crying that he is kills Alfred Ill.” The Mayor grandly tells her that this offer is lost. The crowd disappears leaving him alone. rejected as they would rather “have poverty than blood on our hands”. Claire simply says that she will wait. Claire has now married her eighth husband in Guellen Cathedral and has retired to Petersens’ Barn. She is visited Ill watches the procession of wreaths that are brought by the Doctor and the Schoolmaster who reveal that every day from the station to the Golden Apostle from his the citizens have drawn up huge debts. They try to strike shop window. Customers are buying provisions from his a business deal by asking her to buy up the factories store, asking for the bill to be put on account. Ill expresses and industries of Guellen to invest in the town. To their his surprise that he has had no customers so such a long horror, Claire reveals she already owns all the factories time and now they are flocking in. Meanwhile, Claire is and indeed the whole town and she closed down the seen sitting on the balcony surveying to the town. Ill factories causing the suffering and poverty. suddenly notices that all the customers in his shop are all wearing new yellow shoes. They tell him they got these on account as well. Ill reacts with fear and outrage,

Ill’s shop has a new sign and a new counter, till and ninth husband. Roby plays the guitar whilst Claire and Ill new stock. He is upstairs pacing up and down. From are left alone to talk about the child. Ill tells her that he will the comments from customers, it is clear that the tide is die this evening and she tells him she will take his body turning against Ill and the citizens feel sorry for the way to be buried at Capri. She also tells him that she never Claire was treated. Journalists enter the shop and start stopped loving him but her love became something evil. asking questions about Claire and Ill’s story. The drunken They say farewell to each other for the final time. Schoolmaster tries to tell the journalists the truth about At the public meeting that evening, the place is also filled Claire’s visit but the citizens try to stop him. Suddenly Ill with journalists. Ill is asked by the Mayor whether he will enters the shop. There is a deathly silence and Ill tells the respect the town’s decision to accept the money from schoolmaster to hold his peace. The journalists hear news Claire. He says he will. The press are asked to go and have of Claire having found a new lover and they rush off for tea on the lawn of the Golden Apostle. The doors are a photo opportunity. Left alone, Ill tells the schoolmaster locked and the lights dimmed. The Priest offers comfort to that he is not going to fight anymore. Later, the Mayor Ill. He then walks slowly into a line of silent men who then arrives and tells Ill there is to be a public meeting that surround him. When they move away, Ill’s body is lying on evening to deal with his case. Ill says he will comply with the floor. It is declared that Ill has died from joy. Claire has the verdict. The Mayor offers Ill his gun to make things Ill’s body taken away on a stretcher. She gives the Mayor easier for everyone but Ill refuses, saying that they will the cheque for a million. As Claire takes the train to leave have to judge and kill him. Guellen for the last time, the citizens of Guellen, now After a car ride with his family in his son’s brand new car, Ill identified as a chorus, celebrate their growing economy decides to walk through the woods. Claire enters with her and materialistic gain.

The author and his influences Key themes Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921- 1990) was born in Many of Dürrenmatt’s reoccurring themes of justice, Switzerland. He wrote about politics, philosophy as well revenge, greed, corruption together with fate/retribution as writing plays and fiction. He was also a painter. He also are present here. All are inherently linked with the wrote a large body of work about theatre and drama. influencing genres/theatrical styles. Although he is one of our most important modern dramatists, he is often neglected. He stated that he was • Justice and revenge not “an existentialist, a nihilist, expressionist or ironist.” These two themes are inextricably linked to the dramatic action of the play. Claire says she is “buying herself justice”. “The Visit” (“Der Besuch der Alten Dame”) written in 1956 is Like her artificial body parts, she is fixed and unmoving his best known work. Dürrenmatt called it a tragi-comedy. in her relentless perusal of her lifelong mission. She Dürrenmatt was strongly influenced by the Theatre of the is, thus, linked to the embodiment of the avenging Absurd and Classical Greek Tragedy as well as comedy angel, as she sits on the balcony of the Golden Apostle, and these influences can clearly been seen in his work, of observing events unfold below. You can clearly see the which “The Visit” is a prime example. Classical Greek hallmarks, with Claire identified as Clotho by the schoolmaster, “spinning destiny’s webs herself.” The play lends itself as an ideal vehicle to explore a Dürrenmatt says that Claire can literally afford to play range of genres such as Greek Tragedy, Revenge Tragedy, this part because she simply has the money and thus Absurdism and Black Comedy. There may even be the power to do so. Claire’s revenge is sought on Ill in opportunities for exploring Epic Theatre techniques in the form of justice and is also linked to Ill through the response to the play in performance. It also poses great theme of retribution. This desire for justice is revealed scope for choices regarding the dramatic realisation of near the end of the play to be based on Claire’s love for Dürrenmatt’s stage settings and performance style. Ill which became corrupted. However, Dürrenmatt states This trailer for a film version of the play is worth watching, that although Claire is wicked she should be played as although the 1964 film version gives the plot a happy humanly as possible, “not with anger but with sorrow and ending after Dürrenmatt had sold the rights. He never saw humour, for nothing could harm this comedy with a tragic the film. The full film version is also available to view on end more than heavy seriousness.” YouTube. It does veer off the original text but some key • Greed/material corruption/temptation scenes are worth watching. As Dürrenmatt himself says, The Guelleners are not There are also many school/college performances of the inherently wicked and greedy, even at the start of Act play on YouTube but quality of dramatic realisation cannot Two when they start to purchase more expensive goods be guaranteed! on account. Since their impoverished condition of life and deprivation of economic growth, the Guelleners’ www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y681DYBXec temptation of new shoes and material goods (especially tobacco and alcohol) slowly spreads through the town, including the Mayor and the Policeman. Despite this, they Exploring the play all continue to steadfastly reject Claire’s offer, even though Students will explore the creative possibilities of directing they are incurring debts. This counterpoint of acquisition and staging The Visit. This will be assessed through a and denial create real absurdism and a sense of the written exam but the play needs to be explored practically impending fate of Ill. in lessons. Focusing on the role of the director, students Amongst this growing sense of materialism, it is Ill will analyse and deconstruct the text and explore how who realises the outcome before the Guelleners. The any of its scenes can be staged and performed for an Schoolmaster is an embodiment of this realisation as he audience. They will analyse and interpret this performance states he knows that he too will succumb as his “faith in text in depth, making decisions about which theatrical humanity is powerless to stop it.” It is interesting to see methods/devices could be used, together with the study how Ill’s own family are not insusceptible to temptation, of the relationships between the characters and how they despite hoping that things will turn out alright for Ill. could be realised in performance.

Even once the citizens have voted to accept Claire’s offer, Performance characteristics and it is, “Not for the sake of the money.” Their pervading temptation of acquisition achieves its triumph in the final staging requirements of the text scene where the citizens embody a powerful Chorus The staging/design requirements offer imaginative celebrating their excess of wealth as they chant, “Protect challenges. Naturalistic, abstract, stylised, notions of all our sacred possessions”. Classical Greek Theatre or Epic theatre styles could all • Fate/retribution be equally valid choices. Dürrenmatt also sets the play in “The Present” which gives scope for a wide variety of One could argue that Alfred Ill represents the archetypal possible choices. Students could consider a range of Greek tragic figure who falls from his popular and historical, social, cultural contexts in which to set the play apparently assured status (Hubris) as a citizen of which could create innovative resonances for a potential Guellen at the start of the play due to the fatal error audience. of judgement he made in his youth. However, it is society that determines Ill’s fate. Ill reaches his state Dürrenmatt was especially influenced in the visual arts of Anagnorisis (a moment of realisation of the truth/ and this is most evident in the attention to detail that he recognition of impending fate) in Act Three when he tells provides in the stage settings for scenes. He desired that the Schoolmaster to hold his peace. His acceptance of his the transitions between scenes should happen, “without forthcoming death gives him a sense of calm resignation pause or curtain…” He also states that scenes like the and indeed moral superiority as he refuses to take his own car scene can be set, “simply and for what preference life. He will not give the Guelleners that satisfaction. He with a stage vehicle, equipped only with what the action achieves his greatness through his death counterpointed requires.” So careful attention needs to be paid to the with the spiritual and moral death of the Guelleners. staging style and transitions between scenes. • Black comedy/absurdism Dürrenmatt used Black Comedy to explore serious issues and he believed that human behaviour can be explored Common misconceptions or through comedy. The black comedic overtones in the play difficulties students may have are expressed through visual aspects as well as creating irony in the dialogue. Both serve to create comedy within The main misconception is that a set text is not merely a context that is potentially tragic. regarded as a story on the page. Students will need to be able to analyse the play and be able to offer an analysis The arrival of the black coffin and the daily procession as well as a potential dramatic realisation of the play in of funeral wreaths are potent visual images. Claire’s performance. The Visit offers an imaginative challenge and artificial limbs also add to the dark and slightly sinister many opportunities for originality of response. aspects that the play evokes. Also, the use of irony in the dialogue creates a dark comedic atmosphere. Ill himself Due to the range of genres/styles/influences that The Visit laughs unknowingly at Claire’s ironic questions to the encompasses, students will need to be given exploratory Policeman and the Priest in Act One is potentially tragic tasks (practical and research-based) to develop their own in its irony. Claire has a dry, and in hindsight an ironical, imaginative vision of the play in performance. Students darkly knowing sense of humour which creates an will need to be able to undertake independent research uncomfortable comedic effect for the audience. as well as being able to work with others as they study the play. The ability to verbally communicate their ideas in The plot itself and the dramatic focus of scenes are response to the play and translate this understanding into Absurdist in their very nature, where we see, “Man as lost writing will be a vital aspect. Students need to be given in the world, all his actions become senseless, absurd, opportunities to develop their writing to articulate their useless” (Eugene Ionesco). The dialogue and dramatic response to the text. action promote Absurdist notions. For example, Ill’s various meetings with the Policeman, Mayor and Priest are absurd at their very core due to the ridiculous nature of the encounters. This statement which typifies Ill’s plight coupled together with his inevitable death creates an inevitable and wholly engrossing coupling of Greek Tragedy and the Absurdist world.

How to approach essay questions in the exam The exam paper will be asking questions about directorial decisions for the text. Students will be assessed through their knowledge and understanding of how theatre is created on stage.

A specific and accurate application of technical/specialist vocabulary will be vital together with well justified directorial realisations of the play in performance.

Students will need to have in-depth knowledge of the complete text and be able to provide directorial suggestions for set design, costume, visual aspects as well as performance. Suggested activities Initial explorations of character and plot

This exciting play offers much scope for a wide range of practical strategies to explore.

1. Exploring the character of Claire and her life In groups, create a sequence of tableaus that depict Claire’s life from a young girl to her arrival at Guellen. Ask students to then select the key moments in her life that have the most bearing on the plot of the play. They can create captions for each tableau describing the moment in the present tense (eg: “The blinding of the eunuchs”) and then add a quote from the actual text which supports the importance of this moment in her life.

2. Extension Task Develop this work by presenting counterpointing images: What Claire desired and what actually transpired. For example: Claire had always dreamt of marrying in Guellen Cathedral (based on love) but Ill left her and married Matilda instead (based on his materialistic desires). She wanted children but had hers taken away. These opposing images will help to develop an understanding of Claire’s character.

3. Creation of Before Time scenes 4. After Time scene: There are many references to episodes in the past that can The reporters return to make a TV documentary about be improvised in groups/whole class. eg: the town’s newly found affluence. Use textual references • Claire tells Ill she is pregnant. What effect does this to inform the students’ response. eg: References to places, have on Ill? cultural heritage, historical significance as well as the • Ill bribing Jacob and Louis with a pint of brandy to lie names of the thriving businesses. What are the Guelleners’ in court. plans for the future? Include an interview with the Schoolmaster, the Mayor and Ill’s family to help develop • The trial with the bribed witnesses and Ill’s statement an insight into these roles. in court.

Exploring the play further • Ill with the Priest. Priest as hysterical and Ill as angry. Then the Priest as passionate and Ill as passive. 5. Staging the play: Starting points • Ill on the car ride with his family. Family as optimistic, Consider the following: happy, joyful, passionate, quiet hope. Ill as calm/ - What are the essential design elements? curious/resigned/indifferent. eg: How can the Balcony of the Golden Apostle be This technique can be usefully applied across the whole accommodated on stage? play to explore a wide range of possibilities.

- What are the textual constraints? Consider entrances/ 7. Final Sequence of Act Three: Exploring the vocal exits. Where have the characters come from? Where do delivery of the text they go? How can the scene be blocked according to the Consideration needs to be given as to the vocal dynamics action? Consider use of grouping, levels and proxemics to of the Citizens now personified as a Greek Chorus. Discuss: show the status/relationships between the characters. - Which lines reflect the thoughts of ALL of the Chorus? - What type of staging style would be most appropriate? - Which lines might only some of them say? - What advantages/disadvantages does this staging style have when staging the play? - Which lines might be more individual thoughts?

- Discuss the themes of the play. List key moments that - Where are there opportunities for vocal counterpoints? link to these themes. How can the significance of these key moments be presented on stage? For example:

- How can the transitions be made between scenes? • A phrase that they all say followed by a solo line Remember Dürrenmatt did not want the use of a curtain • A quiet, reflective phrase then a loud, angry phrase. (or black out). - Which words could be highlighted vocally with emphasis? 6. Energy Levels in the Play Explore differing energy levels, e.g. lowest = inert, highest - The use of range of vocal tones to show emotions = hysterical. Students could help identify what they - The use of a range of differing volumes consider to be the energy states between these two. - The use of a range of changing tempos/pace/rhythm Now play a range of scenes from the text to explore within the text different energy dynamics between the characters. Here are some examples but there are many more possibilities - Echoing / repetition of certain phrases. to explore within these examples. Consider the groupings on stage. Do they enter as they • The opening of Act One: How can the scene have speak or are they already present on stage? Do they dramatic interest and differing levels of energy? The use movement in unison? (for their different Chorus first section with Men One to Four can be explored groupings) How can levels and proxemics be used to with them adopting different energy levels: Bored, block the scene on stage? Do they exit at the end? Do sad, hopeful, complaining, depressed. Explore they remain on stage at the end? What is the final, lasting different ways with the text. Then break the first scene image for the audience? into different sections up to Claire’s entrance to see Consider the use of props to illustrate their words: car where the overall energy levels shift. steering wheels; tennis racquets; books and paintings. • Claire and the Ticket Inspector in Act One. Play the scene with Claire as relaxed, the Ticket Inspector as hysterical. Now make Claire more insistent and the Inspector as fearful.

• Ill talking to the Policeman. Play Ill as passionate and the policeman as indifferent. Now make Ill frightened and the Policeman as quietly threatening. Explore again with Ill’s scene with the Mayor.

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